Reported by HarderFaster
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Submitted 22-10-08 17:26
K90 is a name that instantly recognisable in today’s trance and hard trance scenes. Purveyor of some of the most spine tingling tracks to have destroyed dancefloors across the world over the past decade, to help celebrate the launch of his new album, Crash! and ahead of his headlining slot at November’s Thirsty Thursdays, HarderFaster went to get the lowdown on the legend.
Your sound has developed since your last album and is now a lot more chilled and laid back. Was this a conscious effort to develop a different side to K90?
I’ve always tried to write from the heart and Crash! is no exception. All the albums I’ve written are different in some way and this one is a reflection of the kind of sound I’m into these days.
Where have you been taking your influences for the new sound from?
I’m feeling (as are many) the electro sound but it’s just not quite tough enough for the dance floors I normally play to. So, I throw in a little trance and techno for good measure and there you have it, it’s a mishmash of sounds but that’s half the fun, you never really know what you’re gonna get when you reach the other side!
You’ve taken quite some time since your last album to finally wrap up and release this one. Has it been difficult to create the album and new tracks?
I never try to set a time frame as to when to release a new album, or single for that matter. My work ethic is that when it’s ready, it’s ready and I won’t be pushed into trying to release something just because the time feels right. I always try to come up with a new sound or concept for each album so it’s vitally important that I make sure everything is tested and sounding polished, otherwise people will see right through it!
What was your process for creating each track?
I’ll start with a seed, maybe a kick, hi-hat, sound, it could be anything. I try to start each track from scratch and don’t try to work to any formula. What I will say is that, most of the ideas for the stuff written for this album were born out of percussive elements such as loops and kicks etc whereas, the previous two albums – Urban Anthems and Inner Limits - I tended to write the leads first and work my way out.
You also now produce as Night Terrors. Tell us a bit about your sound with this project?
Yeah, this is kind of my electro alias which gives me scope to experiment writing stuff that I couldn’t play out as K90. Although as time goes by, it seems that both K90 and Night Terrors sounds have morphed together recently which people seem to be cool with.
Is the old K90 sound now dead?
What, hands in the air, wave um like you just don’t care, peak time Brixton Fridge hard trance? For now yes, mainly because that sound has been done to death and sadly those kind of events just don’t happen anymore! Who knows, it may return again one day. It just depends if I feel the need to revisit that sound again – right now I don’t and I’m happy with the path music is taking me.
Your Dataless label is continuing to shoot out some top notch productions, from re-releases of K90 classics to smoking new tracks. How are you finding building the label from it’s beginnings in 2004 and what do you have in store still?
The label seems to go from strength to strength which is fantastic and I’m so excited with how the label is going right now. But as with anything, it takes time to build people’s trust in your output. It’s the same as being a DJ or performer; you have to consistently come up with the goods for people to take notice so I try to run the label with the same emphasis on quality as I put into every K90 live or DJ set. The label is so full with block rockin’ tunes right now that the release schedule is complete up to summer ’09 and I’ve had to suspend taking track submissions for the time being because I haven’t got any slots to put them in! I’ve also got plans to put out another couple of CD’s in ’09 so I’m gonna be busy!
You only release tracks via “carefully selected partners.” How important is it for you and the label to have a select amount of release avenues and why?
The music I put out is precious to me and the artists who release on the label so it’s important I work well established, professional clients that I know have mine, and the labels best interests at heart.
You still manage to fit in a busy worldwide touring schedule too. How are you with balancing the time between the competing parts of your career?
It is a bit of a juggling act at times so I just try to stay well organized and prioritize things as they need doing. But hey, it’s not exactly real work now is it? I’ve actually done, real hard work and what I do is quite simply a pleasure and a privilege.
Finally you’ll be appearing at TT for a very special up close set where clubbers can get closer than ever in the intimate confines of Thirst. What can they expect to hear and what are you looking forward to for this set?
I enjoy playing where ever it is, and people who know me, know that I like to have a good time! It’ll be great to hang out with the TT regulars and I’m sure they’ll be a few faces I haven’t seen for a while so it’ll be like a bit of a reunion I reckon. As for the set, let’s see how the night pans out. There will definitely be some new bits from the album as well as some of the old faves, but I tend to like to let the crowd dictate what I play.
If you’d like to preorder a signed copy of the new album to collect on the night, PM Adam Symbiosis for more info.
Photos courtesy of the HarderFaster archive. Not to be reproduced without permsission.
Well from one superstar to another, TT helps warm up your winter season with another international star!
To celebrate the launch of K90's new album, Crash, TT and HarderFaster is proud to present to you an opportunity to get closer than you've ever been to scene legend, K90, as he plays an exclusive intimate set at London's best weekend warm up party.
We’re also offering you the chance to get your hands on a signed copy of the new album. Anyone pre-ordering their copy by sending a PM to Adam Symbiosis will get a brand spanking new copy signed by K90!
Joining K90 and the TT team this month is Trance On Thames boss and Spangulation resident Pathfinder. Fresh from another successful season of partying on that special London beach, the very special 414 and of course an extremely special Ibizan Cream warm up gig at Kanya, we’re pleased to be have the trance master close for us this month.
We’ve let birthday boy Steve Milton out from the HF office for one night and one night only to join and show us his trance credentials. We know that away from the computer screen where he’s busy writing the next of his How To Be.. A DJ articles he’s making sure to bring you some choice tracks!
Mark Rawson will be rocking up first thing to warm up the party with a tasty blend of the finest trance and completes the guest line up for this month.
But that nearly forgets to mention that the TT Tag Team – Adam Symbiosis and Miles Gorfy - really do pair up to double up on you all this month. Expect some craziness behind the Thirst decks as they battle their way through their back to back!
Make sure you get yourself to the bar at ANY point of the night to enjoy these special offers:
Special prices on cocktails
£2.50 for selected bottles of beer
£2.50 for a vodka and mixer (not redbull)
£11 bottles of wine
£2 tequila or sambuca shooters Plus FREE ENTRY TILL 11 (just mention HarderFaster at the door) 7pm till 12midnight.
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Euro Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Psy Trance. Old Skool. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Prog House. Tribal House.
From: Euphoriaon 23rd Oct 2008 15:45.43 Legend K90! See you soon Mark
From: Nicky Don 26th Oct 2008 18:35.14 Wicked interview and such a top bloke. Would like to make it to TT but it's a pain for mr it being on a Thursday
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